I'm in Tenerife at my Dad's villa for half term. As my Dad and his wife are here I'm sleeping in the second bedroom with my son (there are two single beds in the room).
We (my Dad, his wife and I) went to bed at 12:20 - my son was asleep by then. At about ten past one I noticed a small light being used to look into the bedroom I am in. It took me a second to realise it shouldn't have been there. I got up and walked to the door and pulled it open (it opens inwards).
I saw a young (compared to me - probably between 15 and 25) man/youth walking back down the stairs. I called out "What the f**c are you doing?" and they (there were two of them) ran down the stairs and out the front door. Without thinking I gave chase. A quick scan of the room showed the front door open, a window forced open and draws and cupboard doors open.
It was then that the third man, who had been in my Dad's bedroom when I chased the other two off approached me with a ten inch kitchen knife and advised me that if I made a noise he would kill me. He told me twice, just for the avoidance of doubt, I presume. He was not very big and was probably bluffing, but I didn't have the time to think about it.
I, instinctively, put on my most serious voice (the one I use to sound tough) and told him to "Just go then!" and he promptly left.
Immediatly afterwards my Dad appeared at the bottom of the stairs. It transpires that this third man had, accidentally, woken my Dad's wife and had threatened her with the knife but if startled him when I shouted at his two friends and chased after them.
They got away with quite a lot of stuff. Most valuables were in the bedrooms with us - the real valuable stuff was in the safe. Still they probably got away with enough to make an insurance claim but the biggest issue, for me, is that they stole my son's trainers so I now have to tell him something happened. At ten he will, obviously, be frightened at the thought of three, potentially violent, men coming into our villa - especially the bedroom, with kitchen knives.
The immediate concern, although I suspect little chance of them returning, is that we can't secure the window they forced open so I'm not feeling like going to sleep very much.
I know this sort of thing is not remarkably rare but I never thought I'd experience it. I'm not, exactly, very tough. I do have some martial arts training but a long time ago and I've never been in a 'real' fight. It also, I've learned tonight, focuses your mind when someone with a big knife threatens to kill you - even if they don't mean it, which is what I suspect was the case.
Anyway, as it's 4am and I'm probably not going to sleep anytime soon I thought I'd share the events of my exciting evening.
It doesn't bear thinking about what could have happened!
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Comments
If it was me I still wouldn't tell the son... I think it would take him a long time to get over the fear of someone breaking in while he's asleep.
Glad you're all okay.
Sorry to hear of this but the most important thing is you are all ok and hopefully your son wasn't disturbed
Will be agg filling out reports or whatever but I'd deffo try and keep this from your son
Just blag the wind blew the window in or something like that
Try and get out for the day and maybe receive a phone call from your old man saying this stray dog has ruined his trainers and you better go buy a nice brand new pair
Complete waffle but hope it helps
If the police have to get involved with you if possible try and keep that away from the boy , make out the car has been damaged a little bit if he sees them about
I think protecting him and his young over active mind from being fearful is the most important thing if that is possible
Good luck
I every so often have a nightmare of someone being in the room like that but I just freeze (pathetic) well done for chasing them off
bit nasty that
at least everyone is in one piece
feel the joy of being alive, eh!
As you say....focuses the mind
Go have some fun tomorrow
I would sit your son down and explain to him what has happened and that this does go on. Honesty is the best policy and will stop you tangling a web of lies as he questions with curiousity your made up story. Treat your son like an adult and his response may well be adult like about it.
Glad that all concerned are ok, that's the main thing!! Explain that to him and that trainers are just a possession that's replaceable.
I'm sure he knows such things as burglars and naughty people exist but he doesn't need them in his innocent life
scum absolutely scum
I also thought you should tell him.... but as I'm not a father, I thought it better to leave comments to those who are
Glad no one got hurt.KHA
When her Brother found out he refused to sleep during the night-time and would stay downstairs on the sofa for an age afterwards
We were burgled when I was a kid. We were away at the time but still affected me.
Hope you are all ok. Go and have an exciting and fun filled day.
You can make up any old bs about the trainers.
Personally I wouldn't tell George or at least not about the knives etc. Sure you can find some new trainers.
And I was 26.
Don't tell the boy, not til he's older at least
Fookin arseholes everywhere, hope they do catch them but wouldn't expect it!
Try and enjoy the rest of your stay and be safe.